davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

cabinet did their best TO satisfy him. BY the
last Of October Mcclellan had a well equipped
army OF 1925 men, his effective force,
ready for fighting. There was an aggregate
OF l6s,3lS The people expected the Young
Napoleon TO fight He talked about striking
an effective blow and making "short,
sharp, decisive campaign, which should finish
the war Opposed to him at Centreville and
Manassas was u Confederate force Of $4,000
effective men.
President Lincoln was exceedingly anxious
that the favorite general should strike the
grand blow he had promised. "If something
Is not done soon,n said Lincoln, "the bottom
win fall out Of everything"
Mcclellan announced that tho "crushing
defeat of the rebel army at Manassas" WIS
bis object, and that an advance against IL
''should not be postponed beyond Nov. u.s."
That date came and went, the year 1861 faded
out and 1862 was usbered in, and still no
great blow was struck. In February, in a
letter to President Lincoln, the general says:
81 have ever regarded our true policy as
being that Of fully preparing ourselves"
February passed and still no "blow," ex-
cept Of the kind which one meets upon paper.
By March the people of the United States
had run upa debt Of 5000, O0Oin equipping
and preparing armies, chiefly that Of the Po-
tomuc.
In the months Of inaction, too, with the vast
and constantly increasing army lying idle at
Washington, the Confoderntes had actually
blocked the Potomac by planting batteries on
the Virginia side of tho Potomac some twenty
FIVE miles belowW Washington. Press and people
were bowling for something to be done, and
President Lincoln Dsas well nigh distracted.
Cen Mcclellan fer some time refused even
to communicate his plan Of campaign to Mr..
Lincoln. Once tie anxious president called
on the general, ,5ho sent back word that he
was i'll and could not see him. But next day
Mcclellan was dressed and out riding To all
attempts to urge him forward be replied that
he was not ready.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

fAlh OAhS BATTLE thuuND.
Casey was pressed backward to Fair Oaks
station with re-enforcements that had been
sent him by Koyes. There was deadly fight
ing around Fair Oaks At the same time
there was q desperate contest about Seven
Pines, and Pecks brigade Of Federal troops
was forced back. Confederatos swarmed In
In on the Union right, left and center.
COUGHS loft was turned, and his division cut
In two, and Kearncy, who had endeavored TO
save the left, was driven back. 4
Gen. Sumner alone saved the part OF the
army south Of the Chickahoniny from ami
hilation. He had ordered bridge built on
his front across the Chickahominy several
days before. This was the famous Grape
vine bridge. There were only two bridges
besides this by which the Federal troops
might cross tho Chickahominy These were
Bottoms bridge and the railway bridge.
At $3.50 o'clock Mcclellan ordered Sumner
to cross the river to the aid Of Reyes and
Heintzelman. The fact that the Grapevine
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

take third one, stIll nearer Fort Magruder,
and repeatedly sent for re-onforcenients 10
enable him 10 do SO. Sumner twice ordered
them to so TO his aid and twice counter
mandcd tho order. Hancock sent again ur.
gently, and that time Sumner ordered him to
fall back Thus Hancock got no more sup
port than Hooker did. II seemed, somehow,
10 be battle without head.
Hancock was extremely loath 10 obey such
an order, knowing the advantage that might
be gained. He determined 10 obey as slowly
as possible Meantime the enemy poured in
upon him. He began retreatlng slowly before
them. Suddenly he turned on them and opened
a terrific muszet fire. AS the smoke from
that cleared AWAY somewhat he shouted 10
his mon; snow, gentlemen, the bayonet"
His soldiers made tremendous bayonet
charge. Tint decided the day. The Confed-
crates broke and fed. They lost ON That part
Of the battlefield alone 800. Hancock was
superb" Gen. Mcclellan telegraphed next
day.
SO Hooker and Kearney on the left and
Hancock on the right saved the day at VIII.
liamsburg May 8, 1862
But the Confederates got off and continued
their retreat toward Richmond, just as they
had intended. Next day the pursuing army
captured few of their guns, which had
mired in tho mud and been abandoned
That, with some stray prisoners, was the sum
total Of The Federal spolls of war after this
battle. Tho Union forceG lost aces in killed
and wounded, the Confederates 1860.
Gen. Mcclellan was not on the field till near
o'clock In the afternoon. Ho was at York
town experimenting the removal Of the
forces that were to go up the York by water.
Word was sent TO him at l o'clock TINT the
battle was on, and hotly, and urging him to
go to the front He answered simply, u
think they can take care of that little matter
In his bools--McC lellan's own hook--he says
"Could have arrived at o'clock, 1t Is very
certain that Smith, supported by Couch and
afterward by Casey, would at once have dc.
bouched from Hancock's ground and have cut
off the retreat of the greater part of the
troops engaged against Hooker"
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30


between the general and Washington. Nc
Clellan demanded always more troops, and
the president and his cabinet refused to let
Washington be denuded. McDowell's corps,
which had remained at Washington, was to
follow and join the army Of the Potomac.
But tho president did not consider that Gen.
MaCltSan had kept bis agreement to leave
Washington sufficiently protected, and re-
fused to allow Mcdowell to move. This
added to IcClellan's irritation and inac-
ton.
For quite six days Mcclellan had lain on
the Warwick with q force several times
larger'thon his enemy. After that it was too
late to forco the Confederate line. April 10
Gen. d. II. Hill arrived with re-enforcements
to the Confederates, and April II Gen. Joseph
f. Johnston himself came and took command
in place Of Magruder
April 10 Mcclellan writes thatif franklin
and McCalrs divisions Of McDowells cora
could be sent him that be would at once at
tack Gloucester Point, opposite Yorktown,
take it and storm Yorktown from the roar
and in front by land Franklins division
was sent tardily and did not arrive at York.
town until April 90 "a few days" after that
Mcclellan made reconnaissance of Glouces.
ter Point
Plenty Of time was taken for preparation.
1t was going to be a siege on q magnificent
plan. Scaling ladders were mado, and by
the 3D. Of MAY everything was "nearly =
ready.
May 4 came, and lo the Confederates
had evacuated Yorktown. The scientific
siege of Yorktown had coma IN nouob+ Tho
Confederates had delayed the Federal army q
monthin the swamp trenches along the War.
wick line. This gave the Confederates time
to recruit, organize and drill re-enforcements
till formidable army was got together.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

crumbling bones Of thousands Of as brave men
as ever shouldercd a musket.
A private letter written at the time de
clares that Caseys (FederaD division alone
lost 5000 men from sickness during April and
May
There was serious difference Of opinion
about the line of march which Should be
taken There was a sort of triangle of
authorities to be consulted in forming the
plan IF campaign. One was President Lin
coin and his cabinet, another was Gen. Nc
Clellan, third was the committee Of con-
gress on che conduct of the war, Senator Ben
Wade, of Ohio, chairman. In January 1862,
Edwin NJ. Stanton became secretary of war,
md thereafter was most active element in
ell military affairs
President Liccoln had one plan of attack,
Mcclellan another The presidents plan was
to move on the Confederates direct at Centre
vile and attack them in their stronghold.
McClellan's was to go down the Chesapeake
and then work up to Richmond, Va, and
capture the capital Of the Confederacy before
the army Mt Centreville could prevent it. 1t
has not been decided to this day which plan
was the best Either one might have been
successful If carried out quickly. AS it was,
there were delay and hanging back and argu-
ment, while weeks and months were lost
McClellan's plan was finally adopted. But the
fact remains that from that day on Mcclellan
regarded the authorities at Washington as his
natural enemies. In his letters during the
Peninsula campaign occur such expressions
as these:
"Those hounds at Washington are after me
again"
In these words he refers to President Lin
coin and his cabinet and the congressional
committee, including In the lump certain
military commanders. Especially he con
ceived deadly enmity to Secretary Stanton
| March s, 1852, the president issued his gen
eral war order No. 3, directing the army o
the Potomac TO move down the Chesapeake
The permission was given with the expires
condition that Washington should never b
50 stripped of troops as @ e endangered
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30
AROUND WILLIAMSBURG.

Mcclellan occupied Yorktown and estab-
lshed his headquarters near there He sent
his cavalry, with artillery, under Stoneman,
May 4, to pursue Johnston. Stoneman
caught up with Stuart's cavalry near the
Halfway house. Here was line of Con
federate works waiting for him. In front of
him was a large redoubt Of earthworks called
Fort Magruder. There was some skirmish-
ing, then Stoneman retreated to wait the ar.
rival OK infantry to cooperate with him. As
he did SO he left his own cannon behind him,
ingloriously stuck in the mud.
May Hooker had marched with the in
fantry by a shorter road on the right to Join
Stoneman. Gen, w. F. Smith followed by
the Lees Mill road on the left After him
moved COUGHS and Casey's divisions. Kear-
ney's followed Hooker on the right. Sum-
ner's corps followed next day. Franklin's
and Fitz John Porter's divisions were to be
sent up the York river from Yorktown by
water. Gen. Mcclellan stayed till the last at
Yorktown.
The Federal troops engaged in the fight at
Williamsburg were Hookers and Smiths di-
visions and Kearney's divisions, besides part
of COUGHS. On the Confederate side Long
street commanded.
Hooker fulfilled his orders to the letter. At
daybreak, May 5, be came iE sight of VIII
liamsburg. Knowing that plenty of re-
endorsements were behind him, he attacked
at once with his 5000 men. All the while the
plan of the Confederates was to retreat
slowly toward Richmond, keeping a strong
rear guard back of them till they could place
the Chickahominy between themselves and
the enemy. II was mastery movement.
1t was this strong rear guard which began
the battle of Williamsburg, though re-en-
forcements from the front speedily were sent
back.
Hooker, fighting hotly at the front, sent re-
peatedly TO the commanding officer for help.
But the simple fact is there was no com
handing officer. A conflict of authority
arose between Summer and Helntzelman, who
dJsliked each other. So nothing was done tc
relieve Hooker.
Still the rain fell, rs IL had been doing for
rlonth Artillery wheels sank to the center
in The mud, but Fighting Joe Hooker" kept
until night on the ground that had been
abandoned.
Not paying any attention TO Hooker, who
was fighting on the Federal left, Sumner de
cided to make movement on tho right. A
Confederate redoubt on Cub Dam creek, easI
OF Fort Magruder, was reported empty
Sumner ordered Gen. Winfield Scott HIN
cock to 60 and take possession OF it. He IA
80. and likewise took possession OF assSssss
earthwork In advance Of it lie wished
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

once attached to this body with the rank of sec
ond Lieutenant, He was really one of the most
brilliant officers Of the government When
ever quick, accurate observation and scen
tilc information were demanded, he was put
forward. At one time he was government
exploring engineer in Washington and Oregon
territories Again, he was ono Of three United
States officers sent to the Crimea in '55 to
study and report on the art Of war in Europe
At this time he was Capt, Mcclellan and one
of the youngest men who ever attained that
rank in the country.
in 1851 he resigned from the army and went
into railroad building and engineering, When
the war broke out in 1851 he was president Of
tho easterndivision Of the Ohio and Mississippi
railroad, and lived in Cincinnati Knowing
him skilled in military matters, the
Ohio people had him Immediately placed
at the head of the volunteer service of that
state wly II, 1861, he was made a major
general in the United States army, and
assigned to command the department Of the
Ohio.
Shortly afterward took place his campaign
in West Virginia. lie did brilliant service
there, service which resulted in keeping West
Virginia to the Union.
Then it was that he was called to Washing
ton, and placed over the army of the Potomac.
The G.. A. r. "boys' of to-day win shake
their gray heads and smile sadly as they
recall that timo when Mcclellan went to
Washington. According to our American
fashion, newspapers and people went wild
with enthusiasm over him. lie was only "a
years old, handsome and dashing. Ho looked
the perfect soldier People called him the
"Young Napoleon" and hailed him as the
country's deliverer All through McClellan's
letters to his wife are mentioned the ovations
he received as no passed through to Wash
ington, anl even before that. After his
success IA West Virginia he writes to Mrs,
McClc,lan
Wei is is q proud and glorious thing to
see q whole people here, simple and unsophis-
ticatcd, looking NJ to ms Us their deliveror
from tyranny
Again:
Il had q very complimentary dispatch
from Gen. Scott last night. He said he was
charmed with my energy, movements and
success. Pretty well for tho old man."
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30
At WASHINGTON.

Placed in command Of the army Of the
Potomac headquarters ut Washington, Nc
Clellan Immediately proceeded TO restore the
troops TO primo lighting condition after the
disaster cf Bull Run. Any OF the peoples of
Europe could not have believed that we were
as ignorant of all pertaining to war as we
were when Mcclellan took command at
Washington. Gea. Barnard, his chief of en-
gineers, tells how their corps hld to con-
tend with tho want CT special engineer
service There was 10 properly organized
train for conveying sappers' and miners inn
PIGMENTS, lntrenching tools and bridge build
ing appurtenances, etc. Axes were given to
the soldiers to carry for use in chopping down
trees, building roads, etc, The soldier carried
it till he got tired rnd then threw it away.
Next camp he got new one, and so on.
The transportation Of even the pontoon equi-
page fell on the already overburdencd quar-
termaster's department during the heavy
campaigning Of tie Peninsula.
Mcclellan set Immediately about building
nG army from the straggers of Bull Run and
from the recruits that poured in at the second
call The result of his labors was in time the
splendid army of the Potomac. In the iudg-
ment Of various good authorities Mcclellan
was tho best organizer aud equipper OF an army
either side had during tho war In his
memoirs Mcclellan writes Of this time of
preparation:
Il passed long days in the saddle and my
nights in the ofYi,e-a very fatiguing life, but
one which made my power felt everywhere
and hy s-5ery one"
.e felt elatcd. too by his call TO Washing
non. Ee writes at that time: president,
cabinet and Gen. Scott all deferring to me.
Nv some strange operation of magic seem
n have become the power of tho land"
Mcclellan paid particular attention to the
aefeuses OF Washington, and il course OF
time made It well fortified city. After the
hattie Of Bull Run the Confederates were adj
xanced dangerously near to Washington.
ren,reville. a little town in Virginia only
txantv miles southwest Of Washington, wa'
,.s,arded rs the key to the capital After BuI
pnn even that was abandoned, and all the
Union army went troopins pellmell init
e.rnss,,,.rton, The Confederate forces undei
p y .','ss. immediately occupied it. In
'ssed l' Cen Joseph E. Johnston afterward ad
s xsnred the Confederate lines even g Nun
sons Hui, in an air line only slz @llss 1r'@
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30
HANOVER COURT HOUSE.

Between McDowelIis front at Fredericks-
burg and McClellan's right before Richmond
there was force Of 1900 Confederates
They were Andersons and Branch's brigades
and part OF Stuarts cavalry. Branchs
brigade was at Hanover Court House, four
teen miles north Of Richmond To clear
these 1000 away, to destroy the bridges over
the South Anna and the Pamunksy, which
would keep the Confederates from getting in
the rear Of the Union army from the right,
and to cut the railroad from Richmond to
Northern Virginia, Fitz John Porter was sent
viii 900 men. May "a, in heavy rain,
the battle OF Hanover Court House was
fought, and Porter routed the Confed-
crates. Bridges werc destroyed according to
the plan, which was In other respects carried
out, except that the railroad from Rlchmcnd
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30


seriously wounded, and the command
devolved on Gustavus w. Smith. He
also was wounded, but even that did not stop
the fight. About dark, Sumner ordered a
bayonet charge Of five regiments, which broke
the Confederate line, and the fight was ended
for May 81.
Richardson's brigade and the artillery had
been mired in the mud, but they came up
during the. night. Next morning, June 1, at
3 o'clock, t-9 Confederntes made another at
tack Richardson commanded on the Fed
eral SIDE and was on the lookout. There
was an indec isive fight Of several hours Gen.
y. o. Howard lost his arm here, and Gen.
Thomas +. Meagher, the patriot, fought
vaIiantly with his Irish brigade. On tho
Confederate side Gems. Roger A. Pryor and
Malone, afterward United States senator
from Virginia, commanded the Confederates
Gen. Lee and President jefferson Davis rode
out In a carriage to sec tho fight from Rich
mond Of May 81.
June | the Confederate army. with its
stores and ammunition, was being removed 20
Richmond all day. Toward evening the Con-
federates under Pryor went there too. That
was the last of tho Fair Oaks fighting. Each
side lost some 1000. Il was bloody fght.
In the morning OF June Hooker made
reconnaissance toward Richmond He APP
preached 1t within four miles and reported
that only few pickets could be seen. II
seemed good time 10 march on Richmond.
but the commander In chief ordered Hooker
back and began anew around Fair Oaks the
throwing up OF earthwork intrenchmentz
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

Turn now to your map, run your finger
Town the Chesapeake bay, and stop at that
portion of Virginia between the James and
the Yorl; rivers, Run your eye up that, and
you viii see that it is a long tongue of land
formed by those two rivers, and lying north
west and southeast. That is "the Peninsula"
and there is where McClellan's battles were
fought. Well up toward the upper end lies
Richmond, the objective point of the army Of
The Potomac. Slightly to the north of Rich
mond you will notice long, crooked little
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

river, which flows
to tho southeast,
then sud denly
axes q sharp turn
10 the south and
empties into the
James. That is the
Chic a h ON my,
where much fight
ing was done, but
whore fevers and
malaria carried off
more lnen IMAM all
tho fighting in Vir-
ginia. Within its
poiso on breeding
S wamps lie the
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

break, but his chief
forbade It. Smith
felt sure the at
tempt would have
been successful, for
his men were In
fighting mood. He
declared the few
Vermont boys per-
formed more indi-
vidual acts of he
roism than any 9th
er troops no had
heard of.
There was con
tfp,,oI htni, 1.tUn
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

naval vessels in his
campaign toward
Richmond. 7 h 3
first plan was a
combined land and
naval attack upon
Yorktown up the
York river from
Fortress Monroe.
But the navy could
not Cooperate" as
the general under
stood it should, and
Gen. Webb, in his
Peninsula G a M
paign," puts that
I.,.t,. -. MaTfIf
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

bridge was already
built saved the day,
what there was left
of it. Su IN n g r
crossed in haste
with Sedgwick's
and Richardson's
divisions and took
command. Line Of
battle was formed
by Gen. Sedgwick
anew in the woods
near Fair Oaks,
and the battle ragged
even hotter than
before. Confederate
Gen Johnston was
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30
March tho Con 'ederate army evacuated
Cenrreyille. II bad lain. with 10000 mon.

twenty miles from
" Washington oppos-
cd TO ON army TIRES
times as largo foi
months.
March 8 Gen.
Joseph II. Johnstoii
detected indlca-
tlons Of unusual
activity IN a part
of the Federal
camp" swiftly
and silently there.
upon he moved 10
the south bank OF
the Rappahannock,
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

The Confederate army retreated to Williams
burg, eleven miles further up the Peninsula.
Here the third line Of the Confederate forti6.
cations crossed the Peninsula Johnston's re.
'reat was accomplished the night OF May 8.
Il was before Yorktown that captive war bal.
gons began to be used.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

had seen actual SER
gice in the Mexican
var. He was born
in Philadelphia In
1926. He was grad
uated from West
Point before he was
20 years old. The
most promisi s
graduates Of West
Point are immedi-
ately assigned to
the engineer corps.
1T Is the crack
corps OF the regu-
lar army. Young
Mcclellan was at
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30


Confederate army
concentrated after
Bull Run. Beau
regard commanded
IL up to the end Of
January, 1909.
Then he was sent
west, and Joseph Il.
Johnston became
general in chief of
the Confederate
army Of the east.
Mcclellan called
for moro and moro
recruits for h is
arm y. President
Tineoln aud tho
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30
THE PENINSULA.
From Fortress Monroe to Fair
Oaks battle-ground.
GEN. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN.
The People Hailed Him as the "Young
Napoleon.

A State of Chronic Nervousness About the
Safety of Washington Prevented Nc
clellan from Being Supported ms lie
Wished-rho Second Siege of York
town-woridng Slowly ana Painfully
Up the Peninsula Toward Richmond
In tho swamps-Tho ChicI ahominy.
During the winter ofls62 London Punch re-
marked that the American civil war was the
civilest 1t ever heard Of.
In the summer of 1861 tho north had been
crying for leader. Popular demand was
satisfied by the appointment of Maj Gen.
George Brinton Mcclellan to be commander
in chief, first Of the army Of the Potomac,
then Of the armies Of Tho whole United States.
The first promotion came July n, tho second
Nov 1, 1861.
1t was not till the next spring, 1862, how
ever, that any fighting was done by the army
Of the Potomac. The quarter centennial time
Of that fighting has come. Il finds most Of
the leaders on both sides gone from the scene
of all earthly strife.
Mcclellan was not onlya West Pointer, but
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30
DAN WEBSTER.

Gen. Mcclellan rode from Yorktown to
Williamsburg, fourteen miles, upon his favor
lite war horse, Dan Webster. The generals
aides called him "Devil Dan," and he could
trot steady gait all day. Mcclellan never
parted with the faithful beast, but kept him
TIL Dan died. in 1879.
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

Washington. For weeks the Confederate
flag foated on Munson's Hill In plain sight OF
the marble dome OF the Capitol.
CentrSville and Manassas, both far too close
to Washington, were the points ut which tho
Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-07-30

to fredericksburg was not cut Lacking
that wrote Lincoln 10 Mcclellan, ''the scrap
Of the Virginia Central from Richmond to
Hanover Junction Is simply nothing